Typographic composing machine



May 12, 1925.

I J. BARCLAY TYPOGRAPHIC COMPOSING MACHINE Fil ed Oct. 51

1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 12, 1925.

J. BARCLAY TYPOGRAPHIC COMPOSING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 12, 1925.

J. BARCLAY TYPOGRAPHIC COMPOSING MACHINE Filed 001:. 31

.1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 pZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 5696 fmrenior 70W 6 Patented May 12, 1925.

UNITED STA TES PATENT OFF-ICE.

JAMES BARCLAY, LONDUN, ENGLAND.

TYPQGB APHIC GOMPOSING MACHINE.

Application flied. Ccto'oer 31, 1924. Serial No. 747,136.

This invention relates to typographic casting and composing machines which employ matrices mounted in'a die case or holder, the positions of which matrices relatively to the casting mould are determined by gauges or stops operated from a record strip or pattern. and co-operating with die case posh tioning mechanism. i

The invention refers particularly to casting machines such as are described in the specification of United States Patent 625,998. These machines usually have two seriesof primary gauges in the form of stops and in each series there is a fixed stop which controls the end row or column of matrices, thus permitting the use of an extrarow of ma trices beyond'the rows decided by the controllable stops. In the usual commercial ma-,

chine constructed in accordance withthe aforesaid specification, 14c controllable stops and a fixed stop in each series;.control l5 positions in each direction of movement of the die case or matrix holder.

The present invention consists in improvements the main objectofwhich is to pro vide for the positioning of an additional row of matrices in the .matrix holder in either or both directions ofits movement without the necessity of additional movable stops being employed. The capacity of the matrix holder is thereby increased by 15 matrices if applied in one direction only and to 31 if applied in bothdirections of the movement of the matrix holder.

As regards the application of the invention to amachi'ne such as described in the aforesaid specification a description willfirsti be given'of the action'of the mechanism affected by thepresent invention; r

The matrix holder on this casting machine as at present constructed carries 225 matr-ices in 15 rows of 15 matrices'per row. A paper ribbon is perforated by a keyboard mechanism'for the purpose of controlling the posi- 77 tion of the matrix hold'eru'pon this caster .or casting machine. As the matrix holder has 15 movements in eachdirection a combination of two perforations is used to locate every matrix, excepting when the matrix required happens to be one situated in one of the matrix rows at the two. extreme ends of the holder in which case the matrix holder is carried to a zero position or fixed stop, in which. cases one perforation only is needed. If the matrix holder is carried to zero in both directions, at right angles to each other, no perforation is needed. The controllable stops or gauges, of which there are fourteen in two series placed at right angles to each other, are in the form of pins elevated when required to act by means of compressed air pressure. The fixed stop for the 15th position consists of a similar pin held permanentlyaupward, so. that should the positioning member not meet any obstruction such as an ele *ated pin,

it will be arrested bythe fixed pm.

One of the objects of the present invention is to cause the fixed pins to recede or drop to the common level of the other pins, so that they cease to function in the normal manner and allow the matrix holder to becarried a definite move beyond the normalfixed pins, thus permitting of the utilization of further rows of matrices beyond those at present controlled by the perforated paper ribbon and the two fixed stops.

The principal means in bringingthis about consists in employing the compressed air (or other controlling agent employed) for controlling the fixed stops referred to. This is achieved by connecting the air pipes leading to two selected movable stops first to an airdeviatingmechanism, so that when'the air is caused to enter these two selected pipes simultaneously, the paper ribbon being. perforated to allow this, the normally zero or fixed stop will be caused to recede or drop, as previously referred to, but when compressed air enters either of the two selected pipes individually or alone, in obedience to the perforations on the paper ribbon,

the stops function in the normal manner.

Suitable ducts or piping, valves and vents would be associated with the improved machine for the conduct of compressed air from a convenient source, and for its distribu- 7 tion and exhaust. 7

Referring to the accompanying drawings 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the invention as applied to an existing typographic casting and composing machine and contrived to position an additional row of matrices in each of the two directions of movement of the die case.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the air diverting mechanism according to the present invention and as applied to the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of another embodiment of the invention as contrived for positioning two additional rows of matrices in one direction only of the die case movements.

The die case positioning mechanism including the two series of primary gauges to which the present invention is particularly applicable is that of the machine described in the specification of United States Letters Patent 6243998 already referred to. It is not considered necessary to refer in detail to the positioning mechanism as reference may be had to the above-mentioned specification for a full and detailed description. It is deemed sutiicient to indicate the parts cooperating with the mechanism of the present invention. A. is the air tower having a series of air ports which are uncovered in predetermined combinations by the perforations in the record strip to allow air to pass to'the pistons of the pins or primary gauges. B is one of the series of gauges and for convenience will be referred to as the front pin block, C is the second series of gauges and will be referred to as the rear pin block and D D are theair diverting devices.

The arrangement of air ducts or conduits between the ports of the air tower A and the pistons of both series of gauges B and C generally remain the same as in the commercial machine and these conduits are indicated in Fig. l by full lines B and C".

Certain conduits however instead of leading from the air tower A. in accordance with the present invention. are diverted or do not now lead direct to the gauge pis tons but pass through the air diverting device D or D and these conduits are indicated by brokenlines.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 provision is made for positioning an additional row of matrices in each direction of movement of the die case and two diverters D, D areennployed. These two diverters are similar in construction, so that a description of the construction of one of them will serve for both.

Referring toFig. 2 of the accompanying drawings the air diverting apparatus comprises a block having three valve chambers in which are situated three valves D D D. These valves are coupled respectively with three other valves D 1) D situated in valve chambers in line with the chambers of the first mentioned valves. Air from a constant supply enters the chambers. of the valveD by a conduit d and inlet opening 03 The conduit (Z' leading. from the port B of the air tower A is led into the chamber of the valve D above that valve. and the conduit (Z from the port B in the air tower A is led into the chamber of the valve D above that valve.

hen the valves D D D are in the position shownin Fig. 2 the air entering the chamber of valve D passes out of the chamber by a conduit d situated above the valve and'leading to gauge pin B similarly air entering the chamber of valve D" passes-by a conduit (Z leading out of the valve chamber above the valve to gauge. pin l. In these positions of the valves D and D the air from the tower A to the pins B and B operates as hitherto. The constant air entering the valve chamber D passes by a conduit (Z above the valve to the piston of air pin B. This pin instead of being a fixed pin as hitherto is movable and is held projected by the constant air.

The components of the signal for operating the diverter, if used along or in conjunction with the components of other character signals, do not operate the diverter which is only operated when these two components are presented together at the air tower simultaneously with a character or symbol signal.

A portion of the air entering from the conduit (i into the chambers of valve D passes by a conduit d (see Fig. 2) to the lower end of a chamber in which is situated a piston valve D This valve in rising lifts from its seat a spring controlled valve D to thechamber of which air is admitted by a conduit (Z which is in communication with the chamber of valve When. in

the working of the mechanism. air is ad-,

mitted beneath the valve D or above the valve D the diverter is inoperative. When. however, air enters the chan ibers' of the valves D and D simultaneously. these two valves are operated and air from the chant ber of the valve D passes-through the now open valve D and by conduit (i to beneath the piston valves D D D. These pistons are of larger diameter than the 'piston valves D D and D and therefore the valves D D and D are operated against the pressure in the chambers of the valves D D D lVhen the piston valves D D and D are raised the constant air is cut ofl by the valve d from the pin B which is thus withdrawn or allowed to drop, allowing the primary positioning mechanism or positioning jaws to engage pin B which 1s the additional and stationary pin in accordance with this invention.

The arrangement of the diverter D between the conduits C to C of the air tower and the pins of the gauging devices C is similar to that above described with reference to the diverter D and the gauging deviceB and need not be described in detail. It'pro vides for a second additional row otmatrices in the other direction of movement of the die case.

only will be employed. It is also contemplated by the present invention to provide for the positioning of two or more ad-,.

ditional rows of matrices in one direction only oft-he movements of the die case. I

An embodiment of the invention so applied is illustrated in Fig. 3 of the acconr panying drawings. In this embodiment of the invention the two additional rows of matrices are arranged in the die case in the direction which is controlled by the gauging device C. In addition to i-naking the fifteenth pin a movable one two additional pins C and C are provided, of which thepin C is a movable one and the pin C is a fixed one. p p

The diverter I) in this embodiment is furnished with four valves D D D and D which are in the form of hollow pistons closed at their lower ends. Air from a constant supply enters a chamber controlled by a portion of the valve D through a conduit (Z and when the valve is in its normal position as shown in Fig. 3 this air passesround a reduced portion of the Valve D and thence by an outlet conduit d to the pin C of the gauging devices C, this pin now being a movable one, but retained in its elevated position by this constant air from the port C in the tower A passes by a conduit 07 to a chamber controlled by a portion of the valve I) and when the valve is in its normal position the air passes around a reduced portion of the valve and by a conduit (Z to the piston of gauge pin C Air from the port C in the air tower A passes by a conduit (Z to a chamber controlled by a portion of thevalve D and when the valve is in normal position (see Fig. 3) passes around a reduced portion of the valve and by a conduit (Z to the'pin C of gauging device C. The conduit 03 is branched before it reaches the valve D and these branch conduits (Z and cl lead respectively to the lower ends of the chambers for valves D and D in such a manner as to raise these valves. Air from the port C passes by a conduit d" to a chamber controlled by valve D and in the normal position of this valve passes round a reduced portion thereof and by a conduit d to gauge pin C The conduitd is branched before it reaches the valve D the branch (5 thereof entering a chamber beneath the valve D causing it to rise.

The above is the ordinary action when the pins C, C and C are responding to normal signals.

lVhen it is required to provide for only one additional row of matrices one diverter From above the valve D}? a conduit d? leads to one of the additional pins C which isa movable one. The pin C is projected e' en a character signal is presented 'at the air towerin company-with a special signal,

the components of which uncover the ports C and C \Vhen such a signal is presented the valves I) and D are *aised. The air from port C raises valves D and C is to be used the air must be cut ofl from.

this conduit. To bring this about a special signal accompanying a character signal is employed. This signal comprises components uncovering ports 0 and C in the air tower. The air from port C raises the valves D and D and the air from port C raiSes the valve D No action results from the rising of the vale I) as there is no air now present in the conduit (Z 'The valve D by rising cuts off the air from conduit d causing the gauge pin C to be Withdrawn the air being vented through an opening in the valve 1).

The valve D by rising cutsolf the air from conduit (5 causing the gauge pin C to fall, the air being vented through a hole in the valve D Also when the valve D is raised the air in conduit (Z -is led around the upper reduced part of valve D by a conduit d to beneath the valve D raising this latter valve. When the valve D is raised air is cut oil from conduit d thus allowing pin to be withdrawn, the air being vented through a 'hole'in the valve D The positioning jaws therefore meet on the fixed pin C i What I claim is 1. In a typographic casting machine the combination with a positioning mechanism comprising a series of signal-controlled gauges, of an additional gaugepand a diverter responsive to a special signal to operate the additional gauge.

2. In a. typographic casting machine the combination with a positioning mechanism comprising a series of signal-controlled'v gauges, and a normally fixed gauge, of an additional gauge and a diverter responsive to a special signal to effect the withdrawal of the normally fixed gauge.

3. In a typographic casting machine the combination with a positioning mechanism comprising... a series of signal-controlled gauges, ofan additional gauge and a valve mechanism "responsive to a special signal to divert the motive power from one or other of the normal gauges to the additional gauge.

4. In. a record strip-controlled typographic casting machine the combination with a series I of normal gauges operated by designating signals in the record strip of a plurality of additional gauges, and a valve mechanism responsive to special signals in the record strip to operate one or other of the additional gauges.

5. In a record-strip controlled typographic casting machine, the combination with a positioning mechanism comprising a series of gauges responsive to designating signals in the record strip and a normally fixed gauge, of an additional gauge and a valve mechanism responsive to special signals in the record-strip to withdraw the normally fixed gauge or operate the additional gauge.

6. In a record-strip controlled typographic casting machine the combination with a positioning mechanism comprising a series of gauges responsive to designating signals in the record strip and a normally fixed gauge, of a plurality of additional gauges, and a diverter comprising a plurality of valves responsive to special signals in the record strip, to operate one or other of the additional. gauges.

In testimony whereof he afiixes his signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES BARCLAY. Witnesses F. C. KUYrERs, FERNE ZEVNAR. 

